Erie in Erie County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Oliver Hazard Perry
"We have met the enemy and they are ours"
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 14, 2018
1. Oliver Hazard Perry Marker
Inscription.
Oliver Hazard Perry. "We have met the enemy and they are ours".
Oliver Hazard Perry, "We have met the enemy and they are ours, Dedicatedto the Pennsylvanians who built and served aboard Perry's Erie-based ships for the decisive Battle of Lake Erie September 10, 1813, ErectedAugust 23, 1985 to honor the two hundredth birthday of the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Born August 23, 1785 . South Kingston, Rhode Island Died August 23, 1819 . Port of Spain, Trinidad, . From the original statue sculpted by Captain William Green Turner (1833-1917) in Florence Italy in 1884 and dedicated with the following words at Washington Square, Newport, Rhode Island on September 10, 1885:, "The statue is designed to represent Perry... as he appeared in that supreme moment of his life, when he had just gained the deck of the Niagara before he had recovered his knocked-off cap, and while in distinct succession he was giving orders to... 'bear down on the enemy's line' ...orders which infused new enthusiasm into all the American crews...", This statue erected on the bicentennial of Perry's Birth August 23, 1985 by the Erie County Historical Society through a grant from The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with the assistance of State Assemblyman Bernard J. Dombrowski and additional major contributions from . Erie Insurance Group . The City of Erie . E.E. Austin and Son . Captain Thomas B. Hagen . The First National Bank of Pennsylvania . The Hammermill Foundation . J. Robert Baldwin . The Times Publishing Company . Marine Bank . Erie Council of the Navy League . Zurn Industries,
Dedication Speaker for the Secretary of the Navy Rear Admiral William A. Walsh, U.S. Navy, Unveiled by Commander Oliver Hazard Perry, III, U.S. Navy, Commodore Perry Bicentennial Committee, Captain Thomas B. Hagen, Chairman . John R. Claridge . Rear Admiral Charles A. Curtze . Rear Admiral Stephen E. Jones . Rear Admiral Denys W. Knoll . Edward J. Lopus . Commander Eric M. Marshall . Congressman Thomas R. Ridge . Michael J. Ripton . Robert F. Taft . Mayor Louis J. Tullio . Vice Admiral Thomas R. Weschler,
Additional assistance and cooperation from. The Flagship Niagara League, Dr. M. Roy Strausbaught and Fred Langill . City of Newport, R.I., Patrick J. Kirby, Mayor . U.S. Navy . Herman C. Weber, Jr., AIA, Weber Murphy Fox Architects, Podium design, Merle T. Westlake, AIA, the Stubbins Associates, Architects, Cambridge, MA. . Statue foundry, Tallix, Inc., Peekskill, N.Y.,
Don't Give Up The Ship. Perry's famous battle flag with the dying words of his friend, Captain James Lawrence of the frigate Chesapeake., Made by a group of Erie women led by Margaret Forster Stewart in her East 4th Street home.
Oliver
Hazard
Perry
"We have met
the enemy and
they are ours
Dedicated to the Pennsylvanians
who built and served
aboard Perry's Erie-based
ships for the decisive
Battle of Lake Erie September 10, 1813
Erected August 23, 1985
to honor the
two hundredth birthday
of the
hero of the
Battle of Lake Erie
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
Born August 23, 1785 South Kingston, Rhode Island
Died August 23, 1819 Port of Spain, Trinidad
From the original statue sculpted by Captain William Green Turner (1833-1917) in Florence Italy in 1884 and dedicated with the following words at Washington Square, Newport, Rhode Island on September 10, 1885:
"The statue is designed to represent Perry...
as he appeared in that supreme moment of his life, when he had just gained the deck of the Niagara before he had recovered his knocked-off cap, and while in distinct succession he was giving orders to... 'bear down on the enemy's line' ...orders which infused new enthusiasm into all the American crews..."
This statue
erected on the bicentennial of Perry's Birth
August 23, 1985
by the
Erie
Click or scan to see this page online
County Historical Society
through a grant from
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
with the assistance of
State Assemblyman Bernard J. Dombrowski
and additional major contributions from
Erie Insurance Group The City of Erie E.E. Austin & Son Captain Thomas B. Hagen The First National Bank of Pennsylvania The Hammermill Foundation J. Robert Baldwin The Times Publishing Company Marine Bank Erie Council of the Navy League Zurn Industries
Dedication Speaker for the Secretary of the Navy Rear Admiral William A. Walsh, U.S. Navy
Unveiled by Commander Oliver Hazard Perry, III, U.S. Navy
Commodore Perry Bicentennial Committee
Captain Thomas B. Hagen, Chairman
John R. Claridge Rear Admiral Charles A. Curtze Rear Admiral Stephen E. Jones Rear Admiral Denys W. Knoll Edward J. Lopus Commander Eric M. Marshall Congressman Thomas R. Ridge Michael J. Ripton Robert F. Taft Mayor Louis J. Tullio Vice Admiral Thomas R. Weschler
Additional assistance and cooperation from
The Flagship Niagara League, Dr. M. Roy Strausbaught and Fred Langill City of Newport, R.I., Patrick J. Kirby, Mayor U.S. Navy Herman C. Weber, Jr., AIA, Weber Murphy Fox Architects
Podium design,
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 14, 2018
2. Oliver Hazard Perry Marker
Merle T. Westlake, AIA, the Stubbins Associates, Architects, Cambridge, MA. Statue foundry, Tallix, Inc., Peekskill, N.Y.
Don't Give Up The Ship
Perry's famous battle flag with the dying words of his friend, Captain James Lawrence of the frigate Chesapeake.
Made by a group of Erie women led by Margaret Forster Stewart in her East 4th Street home.
Erected 1985 by Erie County Historical Society.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1813.
Location. 42° 7.793′ N, 80° 5.047′ W. Marker is in Erie, Pennsylvania, in Erie County. Memorial is at the intersection of French Street and East 6th Street, on the right when traveling south on French Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 French Street, Erie PA 16501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 14, 2018
4. Oliver Hazard Perry Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 14, 2018
5. Oliver Hazard Perry Marker
Photographed By Martin J. Heade, 1855
6. Oliver Hazard Perry
This 1855 portrait of Oliver Hazard Perry by Martin J. Heade hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“We have met the enemy and they are ours, came the terse report from twenty-eight-year-old Oliver Hazard Perry after the first major naval victory of the War of 1812. The American navy, with Perry in command of the flagship Lawrence, had met the mighty British squadron at Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, winning control of the lake and paving the way for General William Henry Harrison to move ahead to victory on land.
Perry had been assigned the task of building a fleet and assembling a crew, which he described as a motley set, blacks, Soldiers, and boys. But after the battle he spoke highly of the bravery and good conduct of the negroes, who formed a considerable part of his crew. They seemed to be absolutely insensible to danger.” -- National Portrait Gallery
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 14, 2018
7. Sign for Perry Square, where the statue of Oliver Hazard Perry is located
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 427 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 6. submitted on April 19, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on April 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.